CAMPUSPEAK

According to the National Institute on Mental Health, approximately a quarter of all young people in the United States will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year.

While mental health issues affect almost everyone, most young people never seek help. Meanwhile, the topic of mental health, and the struggles associated with it, are shrouded in secrecy, misunderstanding, stigma and discomfort. Colleen Coffey is helping to bring issues of mental health from out of the shadows.

• Keynotes

• Inside Out: Talking about Eating Disorders
• Out of the Shadows: Talking Honestly about Mental Health

Inside Out: Talking about Eating Disorders

Nearly 30 million women and 18 million men in our country currently live with an eating-related disorder. Of all mental disorders, those associated with food have the highest mortality rate. Statistics for college students are staggering as thousands of young men and women fight a daily battle with hunger, body image, self-esteem and control issues.

In her keynote, “Inside Out: Talking about Eating Disorders,” Colleen shares her personal story of confronting these issues in her life. Participants are challenged to understand the warning signs of an eating related disorder and to think critically about what to do for a friend who is suffering.

Colleen’s larger mission is to decrease the shame and stigma surrounding mental health issues, helping students and campus professionals to open up and honestly discuss their impact on today’s student body. In this keynote, Colleen directly addresses the guilt and fear that many young men and women with eating related disorders feel, taking an overall mental wellness approach to confronting eating issues.

This keynote may be combined with Colleen’s general mental health program in the same visit for the standard price. It is suitable for all college audiences, but may be tailored specifically for new students, women, student-athletes or any other specific campus audience.

Out of the Shadows: Talking Honestly about Mental Health

Like many young people, Colleen was completely unprepared to cope with mental health struggles. She grew up in an environment that seemed to guarantee every success, yet privilege could not shield her from the exhausting struggle with multiple mental disorders. She spent time hospitalized from her inability to successfully cope with eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

In her keynote, “Out of the Shadows: Talking Honestly about Mental Health,” Colleen helps student audiences address their personal stigmas about mental disorders and mental health issues, and encourages them to examine how mental wellness impacts their lives. Students are encouraged to engage in meaningful, honest conversations about the prevalence of mental health issues with their friends and family.
 
Often the loneliness, self-hatred, anger, confusion, insecurities and fear that come with mental health conditions lead to substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, violence, cutting, poor academic performance or isolation. Positive examples and dialogue about dealing with these problems are both desperately needed. Colleen is a funny, passionate, relatable, inspirational survivor who has dealt with these issues and encourages others to recognize and seek help for their emotional difficulties. Above all, she provides hope and encouragement.

This keynote is perfect for any health and wellness observance, new student orientation or Fraternity and Sorority Life programming. Colleen can also provide staff training for residence life and student life departments about issues surrounding mental health and how to be an advocate and referral agent for students needing professional help.

Colleen's Bio

Colleen is committed to challenging the stigma that surrounds mental disorders and puts that commitment to practice working full time as the Program Manager for The National Mental Health Awareness Campaign.

She is a doctoral student in the field of Educational Leadership. Colleen holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Belmont University and a Masters in College Student Affairs from Eastern Illinois University. At EIU, she served as an Associate Resident Director to the Greek Court housing community and an advisor to the College Panhellenic.

As a consultant for Phired Up Productions, she co-authored and published the first book on sorority recruitment: I Heart Recruitment: The Eight Steps to Limitless Possibilities for Sororities. She has been actively involved in sorority life since her undergraduate days, having served the Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority in several capacities. Colleen volunteers her time with The Leadership Institute—Women with Purpose, Inc, and has been a member of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors for five years where she is currently serving as a member of the Mental Health Education Workgroup.